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Fulfilling the Promise of Juvenile Justice by Engaging Crime Victims & Survivors and Those Who Serve Them

Presented by:ANNE SEYMOUR

annesey@atlantech.netwww.justicesolutions.org

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My Three Theories on Juvenile Crime and Victimization

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1. “Victims of crime should not be discriminated against due solely to the age of their offenders.”

1994 ACA Report and Recommendations on Victims of Juvenile Offenders

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2. You can’t “mini-me” the juvenile justice system from the criminal justice system, and expect good results!

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3. There is often a “fine line” between childhood trauma & dysfunction & victimization & youthful offending……

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Why Should Juvenile Justice Care About Crime Victims? Victims have traditionally been among

the most vocal critics of juvenile justice.

Many recent juvenile justice reforms are a direct result of victims reacting to a system they perceived as insensitive and unfair.

Should victims be considered “clients” of the juvenile justice system?

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Why Should Juvenile Justice Care About Crime Victims?

The “best interest of the child” includes being held accountable to his or her victim, family and community.

When victims are treated with respect and afforded basic rights, the relationship becomes one of advocate, as opposed to adversary.

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Why Should Juvenile Justice Care About Crime Victims?

There is much common ground to be sought and achieved.

Addressing victimization issues also addresses the cycle of violence.

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Why Should Juvenile Justice Care About Crime Victims?

The rights and interests of victims, the community, and offenders should be balanced.

Many victims do care about what happens to their offenders (especially preventive aspects).

Victims and their advocates are wonderful partners in prevention and response!

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Concerns Unique to Victims of Juvenile Offenders Shock, vulnerability and trauma may be

enhanced due to the age of the offender Victim vulnerability may be increased

when the victim knows the juvenile offender.

Victims of juvenile offenders may “generalize” about youth.

Victims may hesitate to report feelings of fear, or articulate the need for protection.

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Concerns Unique to Victims of Juvenile Offenders Children victimizing other children

affect relationships among those who know the victim and offender.

More limited participatory rights for victims in the juvenile justice system.

Confidentiality protections contribute to victim fears and frustration.

Likelihood of receiving full restitution decreases with the age of the offender

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Concerns Unique to Victims of Juvenile Offenders

Victim services in the JJS are much more limited than those in the CJS

Most trauma response protocols are based upon research of victims of adult offenders.

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What Have We Learned from Research on Crime Victims and Juvenile Justice Reform?

(Bazemore and Seymour, OVC)

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Findings Relevant to Victims For virtually all victims, the juvenile

court and JJS experience had been negative.

Victims were nearly unanimous in their dissatisfaction with the court process.

Felt a lack of respect for their dignity as human beings.

Felt there was little in the way of acknowledgment of them as victims.

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Findings Relevant to Victims Thought victims should be treated as

“clients” of the JJS. Reported a perceived lack of

understanding among JJS professionals about the victimization experience.

Reported a lack of understanding about the court process, and that they had received little information to guide them.

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Findings Relevant to Victims

Most victims were less interested in punishment for its own sake than in seeing that offenders were held accountable, especially for restitution.

A number expressed strong interest in offender rehabilitation, and several had gotten personally involved in offender treatment programs.

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Findings Relevant to Victims Cited “information about the case” as

most important. Cited “being heard” and “having input”

as equally critical. Victims were very open to restorative

justice practices, as long as participation is voluntary.

Thought restorative alternatives to traditional court processes were needed

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Victims’ Basic Needs Information and

notification Safety Voices Choices Information about

victim compensation (in violent crime cases)

Restitution

Greater understanding of JJS programming and options

Improved partnerships among JJS and victim assistance professionals and agencies

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Innovations for NJJNwww.justicesolutions.org

Model victim impact statement resource package

How to help victims document losses for restitution

Restorative community service Guidelines for youthful offender

apology classes

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Innovations for NJJN(cont.)

OVC’s “Impact of Crime on Victims” curriculum https://www.ovcttac.gov/victimimpact

/about_this_curriculum.cfm

Victim/offender mediation and dialogue resources from VOMA http://www.voma.org/

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How to “Victimize” Current State Juvenile Justice Initiatives…..

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WI Governor’s 2009 Juvenile Justice Commission Programs

Risk assessments Educate victims & advocates about RA process

Wrap-around services for youth

Wrap in an awareness of accountability to their victims

Substance abuse and mental illness

Screen for victimization & trauma

Disproportionate minority confinement

Also address disproportionate minority victimization

Social responsibility skills/knowledge

Include victim impact & awareness

For Example, In Wisconsin…

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WI Governor’s 2009 Juvenile Justice Commission Programs

Competency development Address learned behaviors and programming to “unlearn” the bad ones

Anything related to “family” Strengths-based approach that addresses violence & trauma within families

Youthful female offenders Address child victimization and coping methods

Reentry Transition for YOs AND for their victims

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How can we truly “fulfill the promise”? Commit and engage today! Bond with victim assistance

services in your state: www.ovc.gov (online victim services

directory by zip code and type of service)

“Fulfill the promise” that “juvenile justice” also includes “justice for crime victims and survivors.”

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“Re-framethe

Issue!”

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